Kia Venga Reliability: Common Problems and Years to Avoid
What the Kia Venga fails its MOT on, with rough repair costs, and how each model year's MOT pass rate compares with other cars of the same age. Based on 78,734 MOT tests across 10 model years (DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024, retests included).
Segment: small family car | Fuel: Diesel, Petrol
82%
Kia Venga pass rate
86%
Kia average
82%
All-model average
The Kia Venga has an average MOT pass rate of 82%, which is 4 points below the Kia average and equal to the average across all models in our data. Newer Kia Vengas pass their MOT more often than older ones, by 16 percentage points on average, which is mostly down to age and wear.
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What the Kia Venga Fails Its MOT On
Of the 13,431 MOT tests on the Kia Venga that failed at the first attempt in 2025, the share that failed on each part of the test, next to the share for all cars and vans of the same ages. A test that failed on two areas counts in both.
Lights and electrics
46%Cars and vans the same age: 38% · Typical repair £15-£200
Steering
25%Cars and vans the same age: 7.5% (the Venga fails on this more often) · Typical repair £100-£500
Suspension
23%Cars and vans the same age: 35% (the Venga fails on this less often) · Typical repair £150-£600
Brakes
21%Cars and vans the same age: 22% · Typical repair £80-£450
Tyres
17%Cars and vans the same age: 22% (the Venga fails on this less often) · Typical repair £50-£300
The 3 single faults it failed on most
- Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play (21% of failed tests, steering)
- Position lamp: not working (18% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
- Stop lamp: not working (13% of failed tests, lights and electrics)
Source: CarCostCheck analysis of DVSA anonymised MOT test results and failure items for 2025: first attempt at each MOT, fail and pass-after-repair defects, DVSA's defect categories (names shortened). Repair costs are rough UK ranges, not quotes. Method and national figures: MOT failure reasons 2025.
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Kia Venga Years to Avoid
Every car in the 2024 MOT data was tested at the same age as the other cars first registered that year, so each Venga year is compared with all cars from the same year. Years with 1,000+ tests that were at least three years old are included.
Failed more often than cars their age
A lower pass rate means that year failed its MOT more often in 2024; it does not mean every car from that year is bad. Old cars still on the road are often the best-kept ones, which can lift the pass rates of the oldest years. How a car has been looked after matters more, so check the MOT history of the car you are looking at.
Kia Venga Reliability by Year
MOT pass rate for each model year, from DVSA data for tests carried out in 2024 (retests included). Newer cars usually pass more often simply because they are younger. All Cars is the pass rate of every car first registered that year, with the gap in points. Highest and lowest are marked among years with 100+ tests that were at least three years old when tested. Fuel and engine size are a guide only.
| Year | Fuel | Engine | Pass Rate | Fail Rate | All Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Diesel | 1.6L | 94% | 6% | 91% (+3) |
| 2018 | Petrol | 1.6L | 93% | 7% | 89% (+4) |
| 2017 | Petrol | 1.6L | 91% | 9% | 87% (+4) |
| 2016 | Diesel | 1.6L | 89% | 11% | 86% (+3) |
| 2015 | Petrol | 1.6L | 86% | 13% | 84% (+2) |
| 2014 | Diesel | 1.6L | 80% | 20% | 82% (-2) |
| 2013 | Petrol | 1.4L | 77% | 23% | 80% (-3) |
| 2012 | Diesel | 1.6L | 75% | 25% | 79% (-4) |
| 2011 | Diesel | 1.6L | 72% | 27% | 77% (-5) |
| 2010 | Diesel | 1.6L | 71% | 28% | 75% (-4) |
Kia Venga Running Costs
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Kia Venga FAQ
What are the most common Kia Venga problems?
In 2025, MOT tests on the Kia Venga that failed at the first attempt most often failed on lights and electrics (46% of the 13,431 failed tests), steering (25%) and suspension (23%). The single most common fault was "Track rod end: ball joint has excessive play" (21%). Across 78,734 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), 82% ended in a pass.
Is the Kia Venga reliable?
The Kia Venga has an average MOT pass rate of 82%, from 78,734 MOT tests (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included). Comparing each model year with all cars first registered the same year, so that age is allowed for, it passed about as often as other cars of the same age.
Which Kia Venga years should I avoid?
Compared with all cars first registered the same year (DVSA MOT data for tests in 2024, retests included), the 2011 (72% of 7,732 tests passed, against 77% for all 2011 cars), the 2012 (75% of 8,714 tests passed, against 79% for all 2012 cars) and the 2010 (71% of 5,332 tests passed, against 75% for all 2010 cars) failed their MOT most often for their age. The years that passed most often for their age were the 2017 (91% of 9,295 tests passed, against 87% for all 2017 cars), the 2018 (93% of 5,701 tests passed, against 89% for all 2018 cars) and the 2016 (89% of 8,994 tests passed, against 86% for all 2016 cars). A year's pass rate does not tell you about one car, so check the MOT history of the car you are buying.
How much does it cost to fix common Kia Venga faults?
As a rough guide, brake work on a Kia Venga typically costs £80-£450 and suspension repairs £150-£600, while exhaust and emissions fixes can cost £80-£800. Lighting and wiper fixes are usually under £200.
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Other Kia Models
Common problems pages for other Kia models